A report by architecture firm Populous scheduled to be released Tuesday determined that “building a new open-air stadium for the Atlanta Falcons on Georgia World Congress Center land is a feasible solution,” according to Maria Saporta of the ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE. The site is a 21-acre truck marshalling yard just north of the convention center. The area is “considered to be integral to the daily operations of the convention center,” but is appears to be the “only site owned by the GWCC that is large enough to accommodate” a new stadium. Populous and the GWCC determined that at least “part of the site could continue to serve as a truck marshalling yard, especially on non-game days.” The land would be “used for surface parking and tailgating” on game days. A new open-air stadium is “expected to cost at least $750 million, and that does not include money needed to maintain the operations of the Georgia Dome.” Falcons Owner Arthur Blank has indicated that the team “would make a substantial investment in the new facility.” The team, however, hopes “to strike a more lucrative agreement with a new stadium than its current agreement with the GWCC.” The Falcons are among the lowest NFL teams “in the amount of revenue it generates for the league.” The Falcons and the GWCC “would like to see construction on the new stadium begin in 2014 so it could open in time for the 2017 football season.” Meanwhile, Saporta reports because “several conventions and sporting events, such as the Southeastern Conference championships and the Chick-fil-A Bowl have said they would like to continue using the Georgia Dome, GWCC now is seriously considering the ‘two stadium solution’” (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/18).
